Dental Care during Pregnancy is Safe

Dental Care is Safe during Pregnancy

It was once thought that dental care for pregnant women should be postponed, because it could be unsafe for their unborn child.  However, many state dental associations are collaborating to educate dentists and pregnant women on the risk of not providing dental care during pregnancy.  Not only is dental care during pregnancy safe, but it is actually healthier for moms and babies and can prevent many complications during and after pregnancy.

Pregnant women have an increase in hormone levels during pregnancy that effects gum tissue, and makes them more susceptible to infections.  Moreover, many women experience morning sickness which can affect tooth enamel.  In addition, they may have an increase in medicines and food cravings that can increase the risk of tooth decay.  Women who have infections in their mouth substantially increase their risk of pre-term labor, pre-term delivery, and low-birth weight babies. These risks far outweigh the risk that dental care can pose.

Some of the new recommendations are:

·        Pregnant women receive regular dental care throughout their pregnancy

·        The importance of x-rays.  It is actually more risky to postpone x-rays. The digital x-rays are safe to mom and baby.

·        Educating moms-to-be on good at-home oral hygiene and its importance

·        A through discussion with their dentist of all medications taken

·        Educating moms-to-be on the importance of seeking dental treatment and preventative care.

Good oral hygiene and care, during and after pregnancy will also help to ensure good oral health in their infants and small children. If you have any questions or concerns you should talk to your dentist. 

Here's to 26 years!!!

Here’s to 26 years!!!!

 

Here's to 26 Years!!!

 Our 26^th year anniversary is coming on June 1, 2013, and I would like to reflect on how amazingly wonderful it has been to get to know each and every one of my patients and to see you and your  families grow with me while you have been in my care.

I love my patients and care for them wholeheartedly.  Thank you for trusting in my skills.  You have referred your friends and family to me and there can be no greater compliment than that! 

You are making my practice successful and rewarding.  I want to take this time to sincerely thank you for allowing me the opportunity to be your dental care provider.  You are all very important to me! 

 I continue to employ the most up to date technology in my office, with your  comfort and care in mind. 

I can only hope that the years to come will be even better for me and all my loyal patients. 

On this occasion, I also want to thank my devoted staff: Donna Shelton and Ashly Lipina. 

Have a happy smile! 

Sincerely,

Dr. Sophia Bednarski

 

Dental Terms and Procedures

Dental Terms and Procedures

If you are like a lot of people you might get a treatment plan at your dental visit and come home and research it on the Internet, or you might just hear some terms thrown around while you are at your dental appointment.  First of all, I want to encourage you to ask any questions that you might have.  Your dentist should be more than willing to answer all your questions.  However, if you are just bashful or like to do your own research this blog is for you!  

Tooth numbers- Teeth are numbered in the dental field so that we can identify a tooth easily and accurately.  Typically, adults have 32 permanent teeth.  They are numbered 1-32.  Tooth #1 is your top right wisdom tooth.  The one next to that coming toward the front of the mouth is tooth #2. Teeth are numbered consecutively as you move around the upper arch. Your top left wisdom tooth  is #16.  The lower teeth are numbered consecutively too, but they go from left to right.  So, tooth #17 is the lower left wisdom tooth, and is directly below #16.  Continue all the way around the lower arch, numbering as you go until you get to the lower right wisdom tooth, which is #32.  Baby teeth are lettered A-T, but the same pattern used to number permanent teeth is used to letter baby teeth.

Dental Caries – These are cavities.

Amalgam Filling – These are silver fillings.

Composite Filling – These are the tooth colored fillings.

Crowns – Sometimes these are referred to as caps. Crowns can be made up of a lot of materials, but the most used are metals and porcelain.  These restorations are used when decay is too much for a filling only.  The tooth is prepped so that your crown can sit on your tooth.  The crown covers your entire tooth all the way around and all the way to the gumline.

Bridge – A bridge is a fixed restoration meant to replace a missing tooth.  The teeth adjacent to the missing tooth are prepped for crowns and that then a fake tooth is bonded between the two crowns, essentially bridging the gap that is created by the missing tooth.

Dental Implants – This is a fixed restoration meant to replace a missing tooth. An implant looks like a small screw and it is placed in the bone in your jaw where the root of your tooth would be.  Then a crown is placed on top of that.  This is the most natural tooth replacement.  Hygiene and care is what it would be for normal tooth.  This option also prevents further bone loss that people experience when they lose teeth.  Implants can also be used to support dentures or bridges.

 

Periodontal Scaling and Root Planning – This is a cleaning that goes below the gums.  This is necessary if you have deep pockets between your gums and teeth. This is recommended when periodontal disease is present.  Periodontal disease is gum disease, and if left untreated the bacteria starts to erode the bone and gum tissue causing your teeth to become mobile (loose), and will eventually lead to tooth loss and possibly cardiovascular problems.

If you think of any other terms you would like to see explained, just feel free to leave a comment and ask!  

 

 

Sugar Labels and Your Sweet Tooth

Sugar Labels and Your Sweet Tooth

We all have a" sweet tooth", or an urge for something sweet to eat, at times.  Many foods have hidden sugars in them, including foods that might taste salty.  How often do you check your sugar content on the nutrition labels of the foods you buy? If you are like most Americans, you probably do not check often. 

Sugars are hidden in our foods because we like how they taste and we like the euphoric feeling we get when eating them.  Sugar often makes nutritious foods taste good.  If the food comes without sugar, we often add sugar.  We add sugars to things like cereals, oatmeal, pancakes and coffee.  We have become a society addicted to sugar.

A Sample Nutritional Label

Americans have long known that a diet high in sugar can pack on extra pounds and lead to tooth decay.  For some people this makes alternative sweeteners an attractive substitute.  Nutritive sweeteners such as honey, maple syrup, corn syrup, fruit juice concentrate are very similar to table sugar from a nutrition and calorie perspective. Packages that claim to be “sugarless” often contain nutritive sugars.  In other words these nutritive sweeteners are just a liquid sugar. 

Some things you can do to reduce your sugar intake are…

·        Read food nutrition labels to determine sugar content.

·        Don’t add sugar to foods

·        Be aware of liquid sugars (honey, maple syrup, corn syrup, etc…)

·         Try to eat unprocessed foods as much as possible. Foods that are less processed tend to have less sugar content.

·        Be aware that breaking down  complex carbohydrates to sugar(bread,pasta,cookies) begins in the mouth.  If you do not brush your teeth before  bedtime, this sugar can affect your teeth health.

By observing the above, you might be surprised your waistline is trimmer and your teeth are less susceptible to decay.  We welcome you to leave any questions or comments and we will get back to you as soon as possible. 

 

 

Is Your Baby Tongue-Tied?

Is Your Child Tongue-Tied?

·        Does your child have trouble sticking their tongue out past their lips?   

·        Does your child’s tongue look like a heart, or turn downward when sticking out their tongue?

·        Is breastfeeding or nursing your baby painful? 

·        Does your baby have trouble staying on the breast?

·        Do you hear a clicking sound when nursing?

·        Do you have a family member who is tongue-tied?

Short Frenulum, or Tongue-Tied infant

If you have said yes to any of these questions you may have a condition that is called "tongue tied" in layman language.  There is a genetic component and often parents are aware of other family members with the same condition.  The frenulum is a string-like membrane that attaches the tongue to the floor of the mouth.  If the frenulum is long enough the tongue will have full range of motion.  If the frenulum is too short the movement of the tongue will be limited, and in some cases the individual with this condition will be unable to extend his/her tongue past their lips.

 The above can be a harmless inconvenience.  However, in some cases a short frenulum can cause problems with nursing and speech .  Sometimes the frenulum can stretch with time and exercises, but other times there may be a need for a frenotomy.  The frenotomy is a simple procedure that requires no anesthetic or stitches in a young infant.  The procedure is typically done by a trained dentist. Dr. Bednarski regularly performs the frenotomy with her laser.  The use of lasers makes the frenotomy quick and virtually bloodless.  If you have any further questions or comments please feel free to leave them here and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

Top Eight Reasosn to Visit Your Dentist!

Top Eight Reasons to Visit Your Dentist

In a recent Gallup-Healthways poll of 355,334 , thirty-four percent of Americans admitted to not visiting their dentist in the past 12 months, according to USA Today.  To put that in perspective, that is almost one out of three Americans.  The study found that many Americans viewed routine dental care as a luxury item. In recent years, we have been made aware of how important routine dental care is to our overall health. Here are the top eight reasons you should make visiting your dentist a priority.

1.   Your dentist could save your life. There are a variety of infections that can occur in your mouth, which if left untreated can undermine other bodily systems such as your cardiovascular system.  There is a clear connection between heart disease and periodontal disease (gum disease).  Only your dentist can diagnose and treat this condition, and it is thought that more than 70% of Americans have some form of periodontal disease.

2.   Dentistry does not hurt.  Gone are the days when dentistry was painful.  Today’s technology and dentists’ training has made pain in the dental chair a thing of the past.  Dentists are well trained in how to make their patients comfortable and want you to have a positive experience. If you feel your dentist “hurts” find a new one!

3.   Your smile is important.  People say that the first features they notice about people are their eyes and their smile.  It is a well-known fact that smiling people are viewed as more attractive, make more money and have more friends.  Feel confident in your smile!

4.   Your dentist is your friend.  Your dentist truly wants what is in your best interest. They are not going to judge you, they just want to help you. 

5.   Your dentist wants to help you keep your teeth.  Visiting your dentist on a regular basis can help you catch problems early.  Not only will this minimize damage to your teeth, but it will put money in your pocket.

6.   Your dentist and their team get excited to see you and look forward to your visit.  The relationship between a dentist and their patients is often a close one.  We often look at dental visits as time to catch up and visit. 

7.   Your dentist can keep you current on the latest information on dental hygiene and oral health.  Your dentist stays current with latest research and does many hours of continuing education to make sure they are giving you the best care.  By visiting your dentist regularly you can stay current too! Here is a perfect example…Did you know that if you suffer from cold sores your dentist can treat them with a laser just as symptoms are starting? Valuable information can be learned by visiting your dentist!

8.  We can help you to maximize your dental insurance benefits! Don't let those benefits get wasted.  If you don't use them, you loose them!

Feel free to leave comments or questions!

 

 

 

As Our Population Ages

AS OUR POPULATION AGES…..

Human teeth don’t continue to grow with age, but they do appear longer or shorter as people age.The teeth appear longer when there is a loss of surrounding tissues, like gums and bone, or shorter because of bruxing (clenching and grinding).

Periodontal disease begins with gingivitis and is followed by advanced stages of gum disease. These affect the suspension of teeth. The gums may recede and the bone is being dissolved by bacteria.The final effect is the tooth mobility and the loss of teeth and bone.

Losing the molar and premolar teeth (back teeth) prematurely causes the loss of vertical dimension of occlusion “sunken mouth,” inability to chew and occlusal wear and tear of the remaining teeth. This makes the restorative work in the mouth that much harder.

The other concern is the yellowing of the teeth that is caused by wear of the enamel, which is the outer layer of the tooth. The exposed roots due to the gum disease or traumatic occlusal contacts (upper teeth to lower teeth) can also contribute to the altered color of the teeth.

There are plenty of restorative solutions that can be employed in the treatment of the above problems. The life span has been rising continuously and 70-80-90 year- old people are no longer considered old.

We are more active intellectually and physically than ever and we are more attractive than ever.

What we need to remember is that taking care of our teeth regardless of our age is the uppermost desire. This improves not only the functionality, but also aesthetics or cosmetics of our appearance. An attractive appearance makes social and professional interactions so much more effective and easier.

We appreciate any comments or question and we hope this has been informative. Below are examples of what we discussed in the above blog.

 

Medications in Relation to Dental Health

MEDICATIONS IN RELATION TO DENTAL HEALTH

 

Tetracycline stained teeth

People take medications every day. Did you know that some medications influence your dental health, for example tetracycline was once a commonly used antibiotic until it was discovered to cause severe, irreversible staining in permanent  teeth.   

There are also other drugs that contribute to the risk of oral tissue problems and tooth decay.  In some cases it is not the drug itself that causes the damage, but its side effect, such as dry mouth.  Saliva is necessary to wash away food particles, fight bacterial growth and reduce high levels of acid in the mouth.  Dry mouth can lead to tooth decay. There are over six hundred medications that cause dry mouth including many cold and allergy drugs.  People often reach for sugary and/or highly acidic drinks to quench thirst which furthermore increases the occurrence of tooth decay.

It is important to drink a lot of water to counter the effects of dryness.  Some common medications that contribute to dryness of the mouth are: 

A.  Recreational drugs, i.e. “Meth mouth”

B.  Asthma medications and inhalers are highly acidic and over time can damage the teeth enamel.

Asthma Inhalers can cause tooth decay

C.  Cold and allergy medications can cause severe dryness of the mouth

D.  Medications that come in syrup form can be very high in sugar

E.  High blood pressure medications, especially diuretics can cause the dryness of the mouth

F.   Aspirin, especially chewable aspirin is acidic

G.  Chemotherapy, can cause dry mouth and gum problems

H.  Oral contraceptives increase the risk of gum problems

 

Many of these medications are necessary, but please discuss the side effects of them with your physician. 

If there is a loss of moisture in the mouth, plaque (from the foods we are eating) adheres much easier to the teeth. If the plaque is not removed daily by brushing and plenty of water intake, it can cause bacterial growth affecting the teeth and surrounding tissues like gums and mucous membrane (lining of the mouth). 

The above topic is widely open to discussion with doctors of all specialties.

We appreciate any comments or questions and we hope this has been informative.

 

Tired of Bleaching your Teeth?

Tired of Bleaching?

Demi Moore's smile makeover

People bleach or whiten their teeth for many different reasons.  Some people bleach to get rid of stains, lighten up their smiles, or perhaps to try to achieve an overall uniform smile where each tooth is the same color.  Regardless of the reasoning, we all do it for one reason, to make our smiles more attractive.  For people who have been struggling to achieve their perfect smile or who are tired of bleaching I suggest an alternative, which you may not have considered…A smile makeover!

While bleaching or whitening can change the color of your smile, it is not always uniform and the outcome can at times be unpredictable. 

A smile makeover offers so much more and there are many advantages to solely whitening your teeth.  Some of these include…

·        Choosing the exact shade of white you want your smile to be

·        Having a precise outcome

·        Choosing the shape and length of each tooth

·        Correcting minor spacing or crowding to give you a straighter smile

·        A more permanent result

If you are ready to stop bleaching and take your smile up a notch, a smile makeover is perfect for you.  Patients who choose this option are often shocked to discover how their new smile impacts their life in such a positive way. See my previous blog, How Much is Your Smile Worth?

There are many options for achieving your desired smile.  The best way to get started is to consult your dentist and come up with a plan.  Your dentist will work with you to find an option that works for you within your budget.  When considering a dentist make sure to ask the right questions…

·        Does the dentist specialize in cosmetic dentistry?

·        Have they done many  smile makeovers in the past?

·        Do they have pictures that they can show you of actual cases they have completed?

·        What types of procedures do they offer to achieve your desired results?

·        Do they have testimonials that they can share with you from previous patients?

Being a cosmetic dentist can often be compared to being an artist.  Not all cosmetic dentists are created equally, so make sure you choose one that has achieved outstanding results in the past. Having a great smile can make a huge difference in your social and professional interactions, so don’t wait.  Your new smile is just a phone call away!

 

 

Pregnancy and Oral Health Connection

Pregnancy and Oral Health Connection

Congratulations! You are pregnant and there are many changes that your body will  go through and this includes your teeth and gums! Women in general, experience changes in their gum tissue throughout  the month due to changing hormone levels caused by their menstrual cycle.  Pregnant women experience this even more so.  Here are some things to remember…

·        Morning sickness – If you are experiencing morning sickness now is a time to visit your dentist even more frequently.  The acids in our stomachs that help to digest food can be particularly rough on tooth enamel. 

·        Gingivitis – During pregnancy women bodies go through major hormonal changes.  These hormonal changes can cause gingivitis, which if left untreated  can advance to later stages of gum disease, which can cause tooth loss, increased strain on other bodily systems, and even premature labor. One of these bodily systems includes your cardiovascular system, which is already strained due to the increase in blood volume during pregnancy.

·        Baby’s health – Recent studies now show that oral bacteria and their bi-products have the ability to cross the placenta.  These bacterial products can harm the fetus and cause an inflammatory reaction in the pregnant woman's body. It can lead to premature delivery and low birth weight of an infant.

·        Pregnancy Tumors -  Sometimes during pregnancy women will develop a large lump with deep red pinpoint markings on inflamed gum tissue.  This lump may bleed and crust over.  This can cause discomfort and these women may have trouble eating, talking or drinking. These are pregnancy tumors and can occur anytime during pregnancy, but most likely in the second trimester.  Don’t let the word tumor scare you though.  They aren’t cancerous or contagious.  It is thought that up to 10% of women develop these during pregnancy if their oral hygiene is not to perfection.  The improved oral hygiene and removal of the above will resolve this problem.   To summarize: Frequent visits to the dentist during pregnancy are very desired.   


 

 

Pregnancy Tumor

·        Pregnancy cravings and tooth decay – Many times during pregnancy women eat sugary and starchy food items they may otherwise avoid.  Visiting  your dentist regularly can help to avoid problems that might arise from indulging these cravings.

·        Baby’s oral health – The bacteria that causes dental cavities is often passed to infants by their mothers.  Mothers with healthy mouths have healthier infants.

·        Great modeling behaviors for baby- Adopting good oral hygiene, and  regular dental visits, flossing daily, brushing twice a day, choosing healthier diet , will help to ensure good oral hygiene habits for your baby. 

Pregnancy is such a special time for women.  With frequent visits to the dentist and good oral hygiene many of the complications that can arise from poor oral health can be avoided. If you have any more questions please feel free to leave a comment and I will be happy to answer them.